The Man in Lower Ten · Character

Henry Pinckney Sullivan

A handsome, haggard man who admits to stealing the narrator's clothes and forged notes, yet swears he never killed anyone.

major

Also known as Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan, Harry Sullivan, Harry

First appearance: ii a torn telegram

As a major figure in The Man in Lower Ten, Henry Pinckney Sullivan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Identified as the dead man through the contents of his pockets, including a card-case and monogrammed flask.

In the storyV: The Woman in the Next CarOpen this moment free

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Sullivan walks into a room of detectives and lawyers with the composure of a man who has rehearsed his confession, admitting the larceny but denying the murder of Simon Harrington. His use of Alison West's first name and his easy reference to the Laurels reveal a history the narrator cannot stomach. He is the case's most obvious suspect and its most inconvenient one, forcing everyone to reconsider what the evidence actually proves.

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See Henry Pinckney Sullivan in ii a torn telegram

Character Web

3 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Victim, suspects, witnesses, and allies
Key investigation figures
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it forces the protagonist to confront the emotional peak of his je…

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In the story

Henry Pinckney Sullivan appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

V: The Woman in the Next Car
Identified as the dead man through the contents of his pockets, including a card-case and monogrammed flask.
Miss West's Request
Discussed as the likely murderer; Blakeley explains that Sullivan left the train in another man's clothes and that the dead man's pocketbook is in Blakeley's valise.
The Name Was Sullivan
Identified as the suspected killer; his name is mentioned in a long-distance call.
At the Farmhouse Again
Reported by the station agent as having limped to the station after the wreck, collapsed, and stayed at the Carter place.
At the Boardinghouse
Implied to be the blond man in the boardinghouse; Hotchkiss believes he is guilty of murder and framing Blakeley.
A Night at the Laurels
Brother of Mrs. Curtis; mentioned as having lower berth seven on the train.
XXIV: His Wife’s Father
Suspected of murder and believed to be hiding in the tower room; his boots are found by the library fire.
XXVI: On to Richmond
Mentioned as the man they hoped to arrest; his wife is in a Baltimore hospital.
XXVIII: Alison’s Story
Revealed as married and a murderer; Alison was on her way to marry him.
XXX: Finer Details
Confesses to larceny but denies murder; recounts his marriage to Ida Harrington and his servitude to Bronson.
And Only One Arm
Confesses his sister's guilt and explains his wife's involvement; leaves looking worn and old.

Chapter companion notes

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See Henry Pinckney Sullivan in ii a torn telegram

See Henry Pinckney Sullivan in V: The Woman in the Next Car